Judge grants Manning's name change request

Apr. 23, 2014 - 06:00AM
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In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Army, Pfc. Bradley Manning poses for a photo wearing a wig and lipstick. A northeast Kansas judge will make a final determination Wednesday on Manning's request to change her name from Bradley Edward Manning to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning. (AP)

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LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS — A Kansas judge has granted a request to formally change the name of the soldier convicted of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks from Bradley Edward Manning to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning.

The former intelligence analyst is serving a 35-year prison sentence for passing classified U.S. government information to the anti-secrecy website. Manning is serving the sentence at an Army prison in Kansas.

During a brief hearing Wednesday, Leavenworth County District Judge David King said he'd allow the name change.

The decision clears the way for official changes to Manning's military records, but it would not compel the military to treat Manning as a woman. That includes transferring Manning to a prison with a woman's unit.

Manning has been diagnosed by at least two Army behavioral health specialists with gender identity disorder.